Trends in malnutrition among children under 5 in Niger: a retrospective analysis of demographic and nutrition surveys comparing 2008-2014 with 2015-2021.

OBJECTIVES: For decades, Niger, a Sahelian country in Africa, has faced serious food and nutrition crises. Policies and strategies have been implemented by the Government, with the support of its partners, to address this public health problem. The current study was conducted to assess trends in malnutrition among children under 5 years of age. By comparing results from 2008 to 2014 with results from 2015 to 2021, this study aimed to check the efficacy of strategies and policies that were implemented to combat malnutrition. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. METHODS: Data from the annual nutrition survey Standardized Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions and the Demographic and Health and Multiple Indicator Surveys were used. Meta-analyses were performed on the data as a whole and in each age group by time period. For analysis of age groups, the 95% confidence interval (CI) data were missing, thus an estimate was made from the 'design effect' calculated based on existing CIs. RESULTS: Institutional arrangements had not changed from 2008 to 2014 to 2015-2021, and there were very few changes to existing strategies and policies. The prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition and Global Chronic Malnutrition (GCM) both remained above critical thresholds for each year in both periods. GCM was above the emergency threshold for both periods, indicating that all regions of the country were affected by malnutrition. The most populated regions (40%) of Maradi and Zinder were the most affected by malnutrition. These two regions also had highest incidence of poverty and the least health service coverage. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the implementation of various policies and strategies, the nutritional status of children under 5 remains an important public health problem.

Paludisme à la première consultation prénatale : prévalence et facteurs associés en milieu rural au Sud Kivu à l'Est de la République Démocratique du Congo

Contexte : Les femmes enceintes constituent un groupe vulnérable face au paludisme. Dans l'objectif de déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs associés au paludisme pendant la grossesse, une étude a été menée dans la zone de santé rurale de Miti-Murhesa, à l'Est de la République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), trois ans après une distribution de Moustiquaires Imprégnées d'Insecticide (MII).Méthodes : Les données de 478 femmes enceintes recueillies à leur première consultation prénatale entre novembre 2010 et juillet 2011 ont été analysées. Les femmes étaient recrutées au deuxième trimestre de la grossesse aux centres hospitaliers de Murhesa et de Lwiro. Un cas de paludisme était défini par une goutte épaisse positive pour le plasmodium. L'altitude de la résidence d'origine de chacune des femmes était mesurée par un GPS. Résultats : A l'admission 9,5% (n = 453) de femmes présentaient une infection palustre. En régression logistique, la fréquence du paludisme était plus élevée chez les primigestes, chez les femmes avec niveau socio-économique bas et chez celles vivant à moins de 1683 m d'altitude ; les rapports de cote ajustés (IC 95%) étaient respectivement de [2,55 (1,05-6,19) ; P = 0,039] ; [4,78 (1,36-16,76) ; P = 0,033] et [2,34 (1,10-5,02) ; P = 0,029].Conclusion : Ces résultats montrent que le paludisme est resté présent chez les femmes enceintes trois ans après une distribution de moustiquaires à Miti-Murhesa. La première grossesse, le niveau socioéconomique bas et la résidence en basse altitude étaient des facteurs significativement associés au paludisme. Ces résultats appellent à intensifier les activités de prévention contre le paludisme dans la communauté de manière à protéger plus efficacement les femmes en âge de procréer

[Effect of the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding in Kinshasa: A cluster randomized trial]. / Effet de la formation en Initiative des Hôpitaux Amis des Bébés sur la durée de l'allaitement maternel exclusif à Kinshasa : un essai randomisé par grappes.

BACKGROUND: Despite numerous advantages of breastfeeding, in Democratic Republic of the Congo, the rate of children exclusively breastfed up to six months remains low. The lack of breastfeeding support received by mothers from health care providers is an important factor of early cessation of breastfeeding. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the training of health care providers, in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative, on the duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Kinshasa. METHODS: A total of 422 mothers, recruited during the first antenatal care visit in 12 maternities and followed up to six months after delivery, were included in a cluster randomized trial. In the experimental group, health care providers were trained using the "20-Hour Course For Maternity Staff". Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the effect of the intervention on the duration of EBF. RESULTS: The rate of EBF at six months was 2.8%; the median duration of EBF was 10.9 weeks (IQR 4.3 to 14.9). The hazard of discontinuing EBF before six month was 1.4 times higher in the control group (adjusted HR [95%CI]=1.40 (1.10-1.78), P=0.007). CONCLUSION: In this study, training of health care providers in the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative was associated with a significant improvement in the duration of EBF. Extending this training to different maternities could improve the coverage of EBF in Kinshasa.

[Children hospitalized with severe malaria in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo): Household characteristics and factors associated with mortality]. / Caractéristiques des ménages des enfants hospitalisés pour paludisme grave et facteurs associés à la létalité palustre à Kinshasa (République démocratique du Congo).

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major health problem in tropical Africa. In DRC, little is known about the characteristics of households of children with severe malaria or the factors associated with its lethality, especially relative to hospital status. METHODS: This study of 9 hospitals of the city-province of Kinshasa studied 1350 children younger than 15 years and hospitalized for severe malaria from January to November 2011. RESULTS: More than three quarters of children admitted to public (state) and church hospitals were from poor households and with uneducated mothers (P < 0.001). The case-fatality rate (5.9% of all children) differed according to hospital status: 5.3% in state hospitals, 8.4% in private hospitals, and 4.0% in the faith-based hospitals (P < 0.001). The risk of death was significantly associated with circulatory collapse (odds ratio, OR = 10.3), number of associated syndromes >2 (OR = 3.5), z-score of weight-for-age ≤-2 (OR = 3.5), delay in seeking medical care (OR = 4.9), body temperature ≥40°C (OR = 2.9), respiratory distress (OR = 1.9) and home rental (versus ownership) a tenant (OR = 2.8), and anorexia was a protective factor (odds ratio = 0.5). CONCLUSION: Severe cases of malaria are rife in poor households and periurban residential areas. Orienting prevention, control, and care- according to the vulnerability of affected households and providing early treatment are imperative if we are to reduce mortality from malaria.

[Malaria infection and nutritional status: results from a cohort survey of children from 6-59 months old in the Kivu province, Democratic Republic of the Congo]. / Infection palustre et état nutritionnel: résultats d'une cohorte d'enfants âgés de 6 à 59 mois au Kivu en République démocratique du Congo.

BACKGROUND: Despite a reduction in the magnitude of endemic malaria reported in recent years, malaria and protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) still remain major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa among children under five. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition remains a topic of controversy. We aimed to investigate malaria infection according to nutritional status in a community-based survey. METHODS: A cohort of 790 children aged 6 to 59 months and residing in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was followed-up from April 2009 to March 2010 with monthly visits. Data on nutritional status, morbidity between visits, use of insecticide-treated nets and malaria parasitemia were collected at each visit. The Z scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height were computed using the reference population defined by the WHO in 2006. Thresholds for Z scores were defined at -3 and -2. A binary logistic model of the generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to quantify the association between PEM indicators and malaria parasitemia. Odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were computed. RESULTS: After adjustment for season, children with severe stunting (height for age Z score<-3) were at lower risk of malaria parasitemia greater or equal to 5000 trophozoits/µL of blood as compared to those in with a better nutritional status (height for age Z score≥-2) (OR=0.48, 95% CI: 0.25-0.91). CONCLUSION: Severely stunted children are at a lower risk of high-level malaria parasitemia.

[HIV testing among women in delivery rooms in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo: a catch-up strategy for prevention of mother-to-child transmission]. / Dépistage du VIH en salle de travail à Lubumbashi, République Démocratique du Congo. Une stratégie de rattrapage dans le cadre de la prévention de la transmission de la mère à l'enfant.

BACKGROUND: Although HIV testing is offered during antenatal care, the proportion of women giving birth without knowing their HIV status is still important in DR Congo. The objective of this study was to determine the acceptability of rapid HIV testing among parturients in labor room, and to identify factors that are associated with the acceptability of HIV testing. METHODS: Intervention including rapid HIV testing among pregnant women in labor rooms in Lubumbashi for 5 months, from September 2010 to February 2011. Pregnant women who tested HIV positive were attended by prevention of mother-to-child transmission service. Descriptive statistical analysis and logistic regression were performed. RESULTS: Among 474 pregnant women who enter the labor room, 433 (91.4%; confidence interval [CI]: 95%: 88.4-93.7%) had voluntary testing for HIV in the labor room after counseling. The acceptance of rapid testing for HIV was significantly higher when the duration of counseling was less or equal to 5 minutes (adjusted Odds ratio [aOR]=5.8; [CI] 95%: 2.6-13); among those who did not report having this screening test during antenatal care (aOR=3.8; [CI] 95%: 2-7.8), among those who were in early labor (aOR=2.3; [CI] 95%: 1.2-4.7) and lower in adolescents than in adults (aOR=0.1; [CI] 95%: 0.0-0.7). CONCLUSION: Counseling and voluntary HIV testing are accepted in our labor rooms. Consistently offering this service in the labor room could be a catch-up strategy to be combined with antenatal care testing.

[Perinatal mortality: extent and causes in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo]. / La mortalité périnatale : ampleur et causes à Lubumbashi, République démocratique du Congo.

BACKGROUND: The present study was initiated in order to determine the rate, the causes and the risk factors for perinatal mortality in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo. METHODS: Data for this cross-sectional study were collected by interviewing participating women and by analysis of medical files. Women who gave birth in 2010 and were residents of Lubumbashi during the same year were included.Women were included irrespective of the pregnancy outcome and perinatal survival was determined for newborns aged at least seven days.Women were recruited from households selected by cluster sampling for healthcare zones. Perinatal mortality was defined as stillbirths and early neonatal deaths per 1000 births. Risk factors were sought using the odds ratio method adjusted by logistic regression using a 5% threshold. RESULTS: Among 11,536 surveyed women, there were 11,633 births including 177 stillbirths and 133 early neonatal deaths. Perinatal mortality was 27% (95%IC = 23.7­29.6%). The causes of this mortality were respiratory distress (58.2%), neonatal infection (pneumonia and neonatal meningitis, 13.5%), complications of prematurity (9.0%), neonatal tetanus (1.6%), congenital malformations (0.6%). The cause of perinatal death was unknown for 17.1%. Risk factors for perinatal mortality were: unmarried mother; home delivery; complicated delivery; dystocia; caesareansection; multiple pregnancy; low birth weight; prematurity. CONCLUSION: Action should be taken to improve availability, use and quality of Emergency obstetrical and neonatal care. Women should be better informed concerning the danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth.

Clinical aspects and outcome of suspected severe pediatric malaria.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim to evaluate diagnosis and treatment practices applied to children with clinically suspected severe malaria, in two referral hospitals of Kisangani. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was carried out between January 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011 including all children admitted for clinically suspected severe malaria, with at least one of the WHO severity criteria. RESULTS: One thousand one hundred and fifty-four children were admitted in the two hospitals, 427 (37.0%, n=1.154) for clinically suspected severe malaria: 155 (36.3%, n=427) had a positive thick drop examination (TDE), 198 (46.4%, n=427) a negative one, and 74 (17.3%, n=427) without thick blood smear examination. Prostration (48.0%) and anemia (40.3%) were the most common severity criteria, while 14.5% and 9.8% presented with convulsions and impaired consciousness respectively. The etiological treatment was quinine infusion. The case specific fatality rate was 19.4% (n=427), 7.7% (n=155) in confirmed cases, 9.6% (n=198) in patients with negative thick blood smear, and 70.3% (n=74) in patients without any TDE (P <0.001). CONCLUSION: Poor technical support and inadequate organization of the patient circuit can result in underestimating the metabolic complications of severe malaria and of other severe infections of early childhood. This is detrimental to the patients, even when effective drugs are available.

[Risk factors for perinatal mortality in the city of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo]. / Les facteurs de risque de la mortalité périnatale dans la ville de Lubumbashi en République démocratique du Congo.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to establish factors explaining perinatal death rates in the city of Lubumbashi. METHODS: We have carried out a case controlled study in the maternity ward of Jason Sendwe hospital. Perinatal death cases have been compared to those of surviving newborn children among parturient women in the course of 2008. Sociodemographic characteristics, maternal morbidity, children's typical features, have been studied as independent variables. Their effect on perinatal mortality has been assessed using an adjusted odds ratio value at a 5% confidence interval and a logistic regression model. RESULTS: In total, we considered 2279 births (mother and child pairs) for our study. Among these were 415 perinatal mortality cases and 1864 control cases. After adjustment for several parameters, household chores (AOR=1.8; 95% IC=1.2-2.9), multiple pregnancies (AOR=1.9; 95% IC=1.2-2.9), malaria (AOR=1.4; 95% IC=1.1-1.8), primiparity (AOR=1.7; 95% IC=1.3-2.4), stillbirth (AOR=5.2; 95% IC=2.5-11.0) and prematurity (AOR=2.9; 95% IC=1.5-5.5) in previous pregnancies, onset of antepartum ferver (AOR=3.0; 95% IC=1.2-7.3) and antepartum hemorrhage (AOR=6.8; 95% IC=3.1-15.0), lack of fetal motions near delivering time, dystocias (AOR=2.0; 95% IC=1.3-3.0), low birthweight (AOR=15.7; 95% IC=11.2-22.0), very low birthweight (AOR=49.0; 95% IC=28.6-85.1) and foetal macrosomia (AOR=3.5; 95% IC=1.8-7.0) were the main factors explaining perinatal mortality. CONCLUSION: Perinatal mortality in Lubumbashi remains associated with several avoidable factors. Basic and emergency obstetrical-neonatal care (B-EMONC) should be improved. Significant efforts should be made in this direction. Perinatal audits should be established for a good heath care quality follow-up. Obstetrical care should be offered as a continuum in order to facilitate communication between the different caregivers.

[Influence of malnutrition on childhood mortality in a rural hospital in Rwanda]. / Influence de la malnutrition sur la mortalité des enfants dans un hôpital rural au Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: Recent estimates of the role of malnutrition on childhood mortality have led to a call for action by decision makers in the fight against child malnutrition. Further evaluation is needed to assess the burden of malnutrition in terms of morbidity and mortality, as well as to assess the impact of various interventions. The objective of this study is to determine the effect of malnutrition on mortality in a pediatric service of a rural hospital in Rwanda. METHODS: A prospective cohort study included children aged 6-59 months coming from the catchment area of the hospital and admitted to the pediatric ward between January 2008 and June 2009. Anthropometric, clinical and biological data were gathered at the time of admission. The effect of malnutrition at the time of admission on mortality during hospitalization was analyzed by using logistic regression. RESULTS: At the time of admission, the prevalences of wasting, underweight and stunting among children was 14.2%, 37.5% and 57.3% respectively. Fifty-six children died during hospitalization. The period mortality rate was 6.9%. After adjustment for age, sex, malaria thick smear and breathing with chest retractions, death was associated with underweight and stunting with adjusted odds rations of 4.6 (IC95% 2.5-8.4) and 4.0 (IC95% 2.0-8.2) respectively. CONCLUSION: The study confirmed the influence of malnutrition on child mortality in pediatrics wards. These results can be of great help for improving the awareness of the community decision-makers in the fight to prevent malnutrition.

[Reliability of anthropometric measurements performed by community nutrition workers in a community-based pediatric growth-monitoring program in rural Rwanda]. / Fiabilité des mesures anthropométriques dans le suivi de la croissance à base communautaire des enfants en milieu rural au Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: In Rwanda, the community-based growth-monitoring program is implemented via volunteer community nutrition workers. These volunteers are recruited from within their communities, and receive basic training prior to providing services. Utilizing local volunteers improves access to basic nutrition services, and allows the local health jurisdictions to use qualified health care staff more efficiently. In addition to concerns raised in regards to the accountability of unpaid workers, some question the relevance of the data that is collected. We carried out a nutritional survey in the catchment area of Ruli District Hospital to evaluate the reliability of the community nutrition workers' measurements of anthropometric standards collected within the growth-monitoring framework. METHODS: A nutritional survey was recently organized in the catchment area of the hospital in December 2006. The prevalence rates of malnutrition from the survey were compared with those from the existing community-based growth-monitoring program. Z-test was used to compare the prevalence rate of underweight from the survey with the prevalence rate determined by data collected from community nutrition workers. The concordance of children classified with moderate and severe underweight in each data set was determined by the coefficient Kappa of Cohen. RESULTS: Our findings show that the recent survey reported an overall underweight prevalence rate of 27.2%. Community data calculated a prevalence rate of 28.8% for the same population. The difference is not statistically significant (P=0.294). Of 724 children evaluated, the survey and the community were in agreement in regards to 454 children classified in the category of good nutritional status, 143 children classified in moderate underweight and 11 children classified in the severe underweight category. The Kappa of Cohen coefficient of 0.636 indicates strong concordance between data sets. CONCLUSION: Anthropometric measurements provided by the community are reliable. Information gathered from the community can be used for epidemiologic monitoring of malnutrition. To ensure continued reliability, health centers must provide sufficient and permanent training to community nutrition workers. In addition, continued access to essential materials used for measuring nutritional status and maintenance of these materials will be crucial to the program's ongoing success.

[Improving the management of a community based growth-monitoring program for children in rural Rwanda]. / Amélioration de la gestion d'un programme de suivi de la croissance à base communautaire des enfants en milieu rural au Rwanda.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the management of a community based nutrition program in the catchment area of Ruli District Hospital in Rwanda, we carried out a nutrition survey to determine the risk factors for childhood malnutrition in the area. Identifying the groups of children at risk of malnutrition and their risk factors allows the community nutrition workers to target the children who require close monitoring, and assists in the development of key messages for educational nutrition training. METHODS: The prevalence of the three forms of malnutrition was estimated by using the Z-scores height for age, weight for age and weight for height with NCHS/OMS/2000 reference. Logistic regression was performed to identify the risk factors for malnutrition. RESULTS: Our findings show that children from 12-35 months of age are at greatest risk of malnutrition. Risk factors for wasting include: low monthly income of the household, concurrent illness of the child and a household that does not practice breeding. Risk factors for underweight include: child being greater than 12 months of age, mother of the child being pregnant and history of malnutrition in the household. Finally, risk factors for stunting include the absence of a mosquito net in the household, an insufficient number of working adults in the household, the child being greater than 12 months of age and a household managed by a man alone or by an orphan. CONCLUSION: Community based growth monitoring must focus its attention on the children from nine to 35 months of age. Children less than nine months of age are generally followed by the health centers through the immunization program, and the older children are generally followed in the child minder schools that need to be promoted in all the cells. Community messages must focus on the identified risk factors of malnutrition, and a positive deviance approach must be introduced in the entire zone.

[The effectiveness of community volunteers in counting populations and assessing their nutritional vulnerability during armed conflict: district health in D.R. Congo, Central Africa]. / Efficacité des relais communautaires dans le dénombrement et la détermination des populations vulnérables dans un contexte de malnutrition endémique et de conflit armé: cas d'un district sanitaire en RD Congo.

The study assessed the ability of community volunteers, working with district health officials, to conduct a local census to count the population in their villages and assess their nutritional vulnerability. The study involved organizing community volunteers in village nutrition committee and assigning them to count the village population in a Kivu rural health district (D.R.Congo) and assess their vulnerability in terms of nutrition. The study took place in March and April 2003, during armed conflict in the region. Community volunteers supervised by district health officials collected data, presented here as median proportions (with their Max and Min), by age category. The results show that community volunteers were able to conduct this census with reliable results. The population distribution by age category was similar to the national model from a survey by experts. The community volunteers estimated a median of 22.2 % (6.2-100 %) of households in each village in the eastern DR Congo were vulnerable and required foreign aid. Community volunteers can contribute accurately to the collection of demographic data to be used in health programme planning, thus allowing these data to be followed even during instability and armed conflicts.

Prevalence et determinants de la malnutrition des enfants ages de moins de 5 ans dans le quartier Bongonga de Lubumbashi

Contexte : L'etat nutritionnel des enfants est un indicateur mondial de son bien-etre et indirectement celui de sa communaute. Les objectifs de ce travail consistent a evaluer l'etat nutritionnel des enfants ages de moins de cinq ans du quartier Bongonga de Lubumbashi; en RD Congo; et ses determinants. Methodes : Une enquete transversale a ete menee; dans des menages; aupres de 1963 enfants. Outre les variables anthropometriques; les conditions de vie ont egalement ete relevees. Une regression logistique a ete appliquee. Resultats : Les prevalences etaient de 33;5de retard de croissance et 3;8d'emaciation. En regression logistique; le niveau d'etude de la mere (moins de 7 ans); l'absence d'un robinet d'eau potable dans la parcelle; l'age superieur a 11 mois et la duree de sejour de l'enfant dans le quartier inferieure a 3 mois etaient significativement associes a un risque accru de retard de croissance. Le niveau bas d'etude de la mere et l'age de l'enfant (12 mois ou plus) etaient significativement associes du retard de croissance severe. Par ailleurs; l'anorexie; la diarrhee; la souffrance et l'age de l'enfant (moins de 12 mois) etaient les determinants significatifs d'une emaciation. Conclusion : Comparee a la classification de l'Organisation Mondiale de la Sante; la prevalence du retard de croissance est elevee et celle de l'emaciation basse. Afin de reduire la mortalite; la morbidite et contribuer au bien-etre de la population; il faut integrer ces facteurs dans toute intervention

[The effect of spiruline during nutritional rehabilitation: systematic review]. / Supplémentation en spiruline dans le cadre de la réhabilitation nutritionnelle: revue systématique.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of spiruline on nutritional rehabilitation. DATA SOURCES: Systematic search in medical and scientific databases (Medline, Cochrane, Embase) and other specific databases (PhD theses, reports...). METHODS: We selected studies in which spiruline was used as supplementation in malnourished patients, irrespective of the form and dose of spiruline and in controlled trials or not. Two persons made the selection separately. Nutritional status was estimated by anthropometric and biological measures. RESULTS: Thirty-one references were identified and seven studies were retained for this review; three randomized controlled and four non-controlled trials. Spiruline had a positive impact on weight in all studies. In non-controlled trials, the other parameters: arm circumference, height, albumin, prealbumin, protein and hemoglobin improved after spiruline supplementation. For these studies, methodology was the main drawback. None of the studies retained for analysis were double-blinded clinical trials and all involved small samples. Four of them did not have a control group for comparison. CONCLUSION: The impact of spiruline was positive for most of the considered variables. However, the studies taken into account in this review are of poor-methodological quality. A randomized, a large-sized double-blind controlled clinical trial with a longer follow-up should be conducted to improve current knowledge on the potential impact of spiruline on nutritional rehabilitation.

[Protein-energy malnutrition and malaria-related morbidity in children under 59 months in the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo]. / Malnutrition protéino-énergétique et morbidité liée au paludisme t chez les enfants de 0-59 mois dans la région du Kivu, République Démocratique du Congo.

In the Kivu region located in east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, malnutrition and malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The relationship between malaria and malnutrition is unclear and has never been studied in the Kivu region. This report presents an analysis of data from 5695 children aged 0 to 5 years, admitted to the paediatric ward of Lwiro hospital between November 1992 and February 2004. The weight/age (W/A) index and weight/height (W/H) index expressed with standard deviation in relation to the reference median were calculated (Z score). The association between protein-energetic malnutrition and malaria infection and nutritional indicators was measured based on prevalence ratios determined by univariate analysis and adjusted Odds Ratio (OR) derived using a multivariate model. The prevalence of malaria at the time of admission was 35.8 % (n=5695). The W/A and W/H indexes and serum albumin level were correlated with malaria-related morbidity. Logistic regression showed that high malaria OR was associated with both anthropometric nutritional indicators [WHZ > -2: OR (CI 95 %) 1.7 (1.4-2.2)] [WAZ > -2: OR (CI 95 %) 1.3 (1.1-1.6)] and biological nutritional indicators [serum albumin > or = 23 g/L: OR (CI 95 %) 1.6 (1.2-2.1)]. Our findings indicate that malnourished children at admission have a lower risk of malaria infection.

Malnutrition proteino-energetique et morbidite liee au paludisme chez les enfants de 0-59 mois dans la region du Kivu; Republique Democratique du Congo

Dans la region du Kivu a l'Est de la Republique Democratique du Congo; la malnutrition et le paludisme sont responsables d'une morbidite et mortalite importantes. La relation entre paludisme et malnutrition est controversee et cette association n'a; jusqu'a present; pas ete exploree dans cette region du Kivu. Nous avons analyse les donnees de 5695 enfants ages de zero a cinq ans recueillies a l'admission a l'hopital pediatrique de Lwiro entre novembre 1992 et fevrier 2004. Les indices poids pour age (PPA) et poids pour taille (PPT) exprimes en ecart type par rapport a la mediane de reference ont ete calcules (Z score). L'association entre les indicateurs de la malnutrition proteino- energetique et le paludisme a ete mesuree par les rapports de prevalence en analyse univariee et les OR ajustes derives d'un modele de regression logistique. La prevalence du paludisme a l'admission etait de 35;8(n=5695). Les indices PPT et PPA et l'albumine serique etaient associes a la morbidite liee au paludisme. En regression logistique; des OR eleves de paludisme ont ete observes pour des valeurs elevees des indicateurs anthropometriques [Z score PPT - 2: OR (IC a 95) 1;7 (1;4-2;2)] [Z score PPA - 2: OR (IC a 95) 1;3 (1;1-1;6)] et biologiques [albumine serique = 23g/L : OR (IC a 95) 1;6 (1;2-2;1)] de l'etat nutritionnel. Nos analyses mettent en evidence une association inverse entre la malnutrition et la prevalence de l'infection palustre

[Management of severe acute malnutrition in an urban nutritional rehabilitation center in Burkina Faso]. / Prise en charge de la malnutrition aiguë sévère dans un centre de réhabilitation et d'éducation nutritionnelle urbain au Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: Management of acute severe malnutrition greatly contributes to the reduction of childhood mortality rate. In developing countries, where malnutrition is common, number of acute severe malnutrition cases exceeds inpatient treatment capacity. Recent success of community-based therapeutic care put back on agenda the management of acute severe malnutrition. We analysed key issues of inpatient management of severe malnutrition to suggest appropriate global approach. METHODS: Data of 1322 malnourished children, admitted in an urban nutritional rehabilitation center, in Burkina Faso, from 1999 to 2003 were analyzed. The nutritional status was assessed using anthropometrics indexes. Association between mortality and variables was measured by relative risks. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox model were used. RESULTS: From the 1322 hospitalized children, 8.5% dropped out. Daily weight gain was 10.18 (+/-7.05) g/kg/d. Among hospitalized malnourished children, 16% died. Patients were at high risk of early death, as 80% of deaths occurred during the first week. The risk of dying was highest among the severely malnourished: weight-for-height<-4 standard deviation (SD), RR=2.55 P<0,001; low MUAC-for-age, RR=2.05 P<0.001. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox model showed that the variables most strongly associated with mortality were weight-for-height and MUAC-for-age. Among children discharged from the nutritional rehabilitation centre, 10.9% had weight-for-height<-3 SD. CONCLUSION: The nutrition rehabilitation centre is confronted with extremely ill children with high risk of death. There is need to support those units for appropriate management of acute severe malnutrition. It is also important to implement community-based therapeutic care for management of children still malnourished at discharge from nutritional rehabilitation centre. These programs will contribute to reduce mortality rate and number of severely malnourished children attending inpatient nutrition rehabilitation centers, by prevention and early management.

Effect of daily low dose of vitamin A compared with single high dose on morbidity and mortality of hospitalized mainly malnourished children in senegal: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: In vitamin A-deficient populations, children hospitalized with infections and/or malnutrition are at particular risk of developing severe vitamin A (VA) deficiency. High-dose VA supplements are recommended as part of the treatment but results on its effect on recovery from morbidity and on prevention from nosocomial morbidity are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the effect of a single high dose and daily low dose of VA on hospitalized malnourished children's morbidity. DESIGN: We carried out a double-blind, randomized trial in 604 and 610 Senegalese hospitalized children. The first mentioned batch received a high-dose VA supplement (200,000 IU) on admission, the second a daily low-dose VA supplement (5000 IU per day) during hospitalization. Children were followed up until discharged. Data on all-cause morbidity were collected daily. RESULTS: Survival analysis showed that the incidence of respiratory disease was significantly lower in the low-dose group than in the high-dose group, hazard ratios (HR): 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07-0.92. The duration of respiratory infection was also significantly lower in the low-dose group than in the high-dose group (HR of cure: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.05-1.89). Duration and incidence of diarrhoea were not significantly different between treatment groups. In children with oedema on admission, mortality was significantly lower in the low-dose group (Adjusted odds ratio: 0.21; 95% CI: 0.05-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Daily low dose of VA compared with single high dose significantly reduced duration and incidence of respiratory infection but not of diarrhoea in hospitalized children.

[Nutritional status on admission and hospital mortality of under-five year old children with infectious diseases in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso]. / Etat nutritionnel à l'admission et mortalité hospitalière des enfants de moins de 5ans atteints de maladies infectieuses à Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

BACKGROUND: It is known that malnutrition in childhood interacting with infectious diseases contributes to increase mortality. In Burkina Faso, infectious pathologies and malnutrition are public health problems. We examined the impact of malnutrition status, using the Weight-for-age (WA) index, on mortality of children hospitalized for infectious diseases. METHODS: This retrospective study uses a systematic sample derived from the year 1999 hospital register. In total data of 1573 children from 0 to 59 months were analyzed. The association between mortality and dependent variables was measured by relative risks (RR) in univariate analysis. A logistic regression was realized and attributable risk percent (etiologic fraction among exposed) of death was calculated. RESULTS: The total intra-hospital lethality amounted to 15.3%. Age, diagnosis, type of care recourse and malnutrition (low WA index) on admission were associated to mortality. The logistic regression model confirmed the high risks of deaths for young children (0-11m), children in malnutrition (low WA index) and those with severe malaria. The attributable risk percent of death indicates that, 87% of deaths are statically attributable to severe malnutrition (WA Z-score<=-3) and 64.3% of deaths are statically attributable to moderate malnutrition (WA Z-score]-3, -2]). CONCLUSION: Nutritional status evaluation would allow to select children at risk and reduce mortality by including nutritional intervention in standard treatment of children hospitalized for infectious diseases.